When Muhammad Ali said he was The Greatest, you tended to believe him. When Floyd Mayweather Jr. says the same thing, well …

Mayweather was asked on a conference call a few days ago whether he actually believes what he has said in the past, that he’s a better fighter than were both heavyweight legend Ali and the consensus greatest-ever Sugar Ray Robinson.

He answered in the affirmative.

“Why not?,” he said. “I take my hat off to them. I got respect for Sugar Ray Robinson. I've got respect for Muhammad Ali. But I'm a man just like they're men. I put on my pants just like they put on their pants. What makes them any better than I am? Because they fought a thousand fights? In my era, it's totally different. You know? It's pay-per-view now, so things change. It's out with the old and in with the new. Things change. Like I said, Muhammad Ali is one hell of a fighter. But Floyd Mayweather is the best. Sugar Ray Robinson is one hell of a fighter, but Floyd Mayweather is the best.”

Here’s a quick why not:

Robinson could do everything Mayweather can – and much more. He had power and wasn’t afraid to use it, as Mayweather seems to be. Robinson actually took risks in order to take out his opponents and entertain the fans. And consider this: He started his career 119-1-2 during an era deep in talent and was still fighting for titles into his 40s. Robinson fought 30-plus fights against Hall of Famers.

Ali could do everything Mayweather can – at heavyweight. And, although he wasn’t as aggressive as Robinson was, he too went after his opponents more than Mayweather does. Ali dominating the richest era ever in the heavyweight division, fighting 13 hall of famers. And he had charisma that Mayweather couldn’t begin to replicate.

Who has Mayweather beaten? Jose Luis Castillo? Ricky Hatton? An aging Oscar De La Hoya? That doesn't stack against the likes of Jake LaMotta and Kid Gavilan or Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier.

Make no mistake: Mayweather is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best fighters of his time. To compare him to the likes of Ali and Robinson is ridiculous, however. He needs to prove a lot more before we can even entertain such a concept.

Segue to Pacquiao: Mayweather also was asked where he thought Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao would go on an all-time list.

“Well, I don't know where I could put Mosley,” he said. “I can't see how a guy can call himself great. I can't see how a guy like Mosley can even call himself great or he can't talk about. I can't see Mosley talk about putting himself as a future Hall of Famer and this was a guy we don't know how long he was taking enhancement drugs. So this is something that we don't know.

“OK, Manny Pacquiao struggled twice, which we really know he got beat, struggled twice with Marquez, which we know he really lost, right? And we know he's been knocked out twice. And he's been out-boxed by Eric Morales, but they still give him Boxer of the Decade. So that's something I don't understand. He beat a Miguel Cotto who just got pummeled with a cast. So I mean, tell me what it really is. He beat Miguel Cotto that got pummeled with a cast and he beat a Ricky Hatton that got stretched by me. I'm trying to find out what it really is. That's not for me to choose. That's not for me to put him in the Hall of Fame.

“All I'm saying, if you're a clean athlete, take your test. That's all I'm saying. That's all I've got to say. If you're a clean athlete, take the test. Show the world, you know what, I'm a natural. Take the test, that's all I say. That you saw they come get you at any time and take the test.”

Not sure how he transitioned into the drug-testing thing.

Legacy enhancement: Mayweather hasn’t given Mosley a tremendous amount of respect but did admit that a victory over his fellow future Hall of Famer would strengthen his resume.

“At this point, it's about enhancing it,” he said. “So like I said before, I think Shane's a solid welterweight. He's been around the sport for a long, long time and he's done some things in this sport. I've done a lot of things in this sport. I've done a lot of things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in this sport and didn't do in this sport. So like I said before, I think with Shane Mosley, it's going to of course, enhance my legacy.”

The same but different: Most observers would say that Mayweather and Mosley have some similarities: athleticism, quickness, sharp skills, ring savvy and more. Mayweather doesn’t see it, though.

“I think we're totally different,” he said. “I think that he's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot. He's worried about who is extremely strong and I worry about being smart and winning. So we approach fighting in two total different ways, always. I mean, Shane may be loading up with wide shots and kind of using not really a fuller jab and I use a fuller jab. You know when I shoot my shots, I look at my opponents and I look where I'm punching. When Shane punches a lot of times, he closes his eyes if you go back and look at some of Shane's fights. So I think we are two total different fighters.”

Is there any way you think you might be similar?

“Yes, we're fighting May 1,” he said.

No WBA title at stake: Mayweather will not be fighting for Mosley’s WBA welterweight title because he didn’t want to pay the sanctioning fees. Good for him. More fighters should say no the sport’s money-sucking sanctioning bodies and their watered-down belts.

“At this level … it’s not about belts,” said Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s advisor. “It's about fighting, like he said, to improve his legacy and also it's about money. … Floyd's already the best fighter in the world. What does he need to fight for a belt to prove that?

Poll watch: The fans seem to be divided by geography, gender and media outlet in terms of whom they pick to win the Mayweather-Mosley fight, according to Golden Boy Promotions.

For example, those on the East Coast favor Mayweather while those on West Coast favor Mosley: East Coast – Mayweather 62 percent, Mosley 38 percent; West Coast – Mosley 52 percent, Mayweather 48 percent.

The figures were culled from CNN, ESPN, People, ****e, Entertainment Weekly and Univision, and were released on April 21 by Golden Boy.

Red alert: We’ve been hearing for some time about this red-headed, freckle-faced kid who reportedly has become a sensation in his native Mexico. Now, we finally get a chance to see him.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, only 19, is scheduled to fight Jose Miguel Cotto in a 10-round welterweight fight on the televised portion of the Mayweather-Mosley undercard.

Alavarez, whose nickname means Cinnamon, has become what Golden Boy Promotions calls “a boxing rock star” who sells out large arenas and does terrific television ratings. However, has never fought on international TV and is stepping up in competition. The once-beaten older brother of Miguel Cotto gave Juan Diaz a decent fight in his only title shot.

Golden Boy hopes to turn Alvarez (31-0-1, 23 KOs) into a cross-over star who will appeal to both Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, as well as other ethnicities in the U.S.

"I fight for my people each and every time I step in the ring,” Alvarez said, “and now to fight in Las Vegas on such an important night of boxing is the next step of my career. It's a very important fight for me and it's an honor to be part of this big Mayweather vs. Mosley event. Making it an even bigger fight, it's taking place on Cinco de Mayo weekend, it continues the great boxing tradition of Mexico vs. Puerto Rico and I am facing a tough opponent in Jose Miguel Cotto in order to show the world that I am a great fighter and a future world champion."

defensively floyd is greater. also his precision, accuracy, and counters are better.

BUT

fighter wise floyd is not greater. there is more to boxing than just skill. boxing is 80% mental and not sure floyd is cut from the same cloth as SRR or MA. Ray was very tough, high output, killed a man with a left hook, could pick his ass off the canvas and torture your soul. dont forget 15 rounds. not everyone could finish those last 3 rounds strongly.

ali was basically a heavier SRR impression but not as good. actually, cassius clay was much better than ali was.

I can't even understand half of what he's saying. It's like while he's talking, he's constantly thinking of what to say next, but not quite fast enough to say them, resulting in really odd sounding speech and non sequiturs all over the place.

Even Roger mayweather Said in the recent conference that the greatest fighter ever to lace up a pair of gloves til this day is Sugar ray robinson...
and only a trainer knows his fighter inside out so by roger still making this statement obviously says something..

i mean what does roger get by making such a remark?it will only jeopardize his relationship with floyd..as floyd is the one who is writing his cheques and is his own nephew..besides, Sugar ray robinson(May he Rest In Peace) has already passed away so by he coming out with a statement like that which is not the first time mind you,while his nephew is saying that he is better Than Ray robinson without getting any backing from his uncle nor his father or whatsoever for that matter is pretty funny!

I don't see anything wrong with him saying it. IMO he is better, if you've ever seen any of SRR or Ali fights ud see this.
Being better has nothing to do with knocking a guy out or how he took risks to entertain the crowd.

If the 100 yard dash wasn't timed, could Bolt say he was the fastest? Who had the best curve in baseball? This is all opinion, and Floyd has his.
People get there panties all in a bunch whenever this guy speaks his mind, its his opinion and he's entitled to it. You don't think he is, fine that's your opinion.
Most of you think you're "The Man!" But are you really? You think you know boxing, but do you really?